10/29/2025
SUNDAY SCHOOL BEGINS SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND!
St. Sophia Sunday School News
Sunday November 2nd, 2025
On Sunday, November 2nd we are happy to begin another year of Sunday school! We have three classes, each named for an American saint: St. Herman of Alaska (preschool & kindergarten) taught by Johanna Cotter, St. Olga of Alaska (1st grade - 5th grade) taught by the Frost family, and St. John of San Francisco (6th grade -10th grade) taught by Donald Antenen. Sunday school is open to all families at St. Sophia, and children of inquirers and catechumens are encouraged to participate!
This year the middle school class is going to study and practice prayer through the exercises suggested in When You Pray: A Practical Guide to an Orthodox Life of Prayer. We will also read and pray with the Psalter. St. Basil the Great has a wonderful homily about why we ought to read the Psalms:
Now, the prophets teach one thing, historians another, the law something else, and the form of advice found in the proverbs something different still. But, the book of Psalms has taken over what is profitable from all. It foretells coming events; it recalls history; it frames laws for life; it suggests what must be done; and, in general, it is the common treasury of good doctrine, carefully finding what is suitable for each. It completely cures the soul’s old wounds, and it brings quick improvement to those recently wounded; the diseased it treats, and the unharmed it preserves. And on the whole, as far as is possible it removes the passions, which exercise dominion over souls during the life of men in diverse ways, and it does this with a certain orderly persuasion and sweetness that produces sound thoughts… A psalm implies serenity of soul; it is the author of peace, which calms bewildering and seething thoughts. For, it softens the wrath of the soul, and what is unbridled it chastens. A psalm forms friendships, unites those separated, conciliates those at enmity. Who, indeed, can still consider as an enemy him with whom he has uttered the same prayer to God? So that psalmody, bringing about choral singing, a bond, as it were, toward unity, and joining the people into a harmonious union of one choir, produces also the greatest of blessings, charity. A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons; a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women. It peoples the solitudes; it rids the market place of excesses; it is the elementary exposition of beginners, the improvement of those advancing, the solid support of the perfect, the voice of the Church. It brightens the feast days; it creates a sorrow which is in accordance with God. For, a psalm calls forth a tear even from a heart of stone. A psalm is the work of angels, a heavenly institution, the spiritual incense.
It’s been wonderful to see so many families with children at Divine Liturgy on Sundays. Please pray for the children of our parish. And encourage your children and grandchildren to stay close to the Church.
St. Olga, pray for us!
